What’s that, Northwestern politicos? You think elections are over?

You are so, so wrong. True politics junkies know that election season never ends. There’s 2010 to consider, of course, and if the Obamanauts know what’s good for them, they’re already gearing up for the re-election campaign.

And then there’s April 2009, when a race that’s just as passionate, crazy and endearing as the general election will be run. Only this one will have more direct bearing on how we live our lives.

I’m referring, of course, to the Evanston City Council elections.

No! Don’t go away! I promise you they’re fun. If you’re the type to check fivethirtyeight or Wonkette every half-hour, the aldermanic races are right up your alley. All that unused post-election energy has got to go somewhere, don’t you think?

Evanston municipal politics is a beautiful, horrible tangle of zealotry and bile and earnestness and straight-up insanity. You’ve never seen mountains and molehills like this. Get ready.

So let’s start close to home: the race for First Ward alderman between incumbent Cheryl Wollin and Judy Fiske. This is a rematch, and oh will it ever be bitter. The last time they faced off, in 2005, Fiske filed an actual lawsuit accusing Wollin of illegally wooing Northwestern voters with housing points and pizza. She lost the election by only 90 votes and her lawsuit failed, so she opened up an “organic pet-supply store” on Davis Street. Now she’s back for vengeance.

Then there’s the Seventh Ward. Its current representative, Elizabeth Tisdahl, is running for mayor, and no fewer than four Evanstonians have taken out papers to run for her seat. By far the most colorful of the candidates is Junad Rizki, who is best known for his off-topic tirades during public comment at city council meetings, where he usually shows up with a pink stuffed pig. Oh, and he ran against Tisdahl in 2005, getting only 23 percent of the vote. There’s all kinds of grudge matches this year. It’s like a cowboy movie or something.

Inspired by our generation’s political awakening? Then you’ll love that 2006 NU alum Patrick Keenan-Devlin is considering a run for Fourth Ward alderman. He’s not sure yet whether or not to make his bid official, but just the fact that he’s thinking about it proves that the transition from student to hardcore townie can be made. Don’t you want to see a recent grad get a job in such a crappy market? The anticipation is killing us.

Fascinating, right? Isn’t it awesome to have political craziness like right on your doorstep? Oh, is that just me? Fine, then. Maybe this will change your mind:

This city will be $145 million in debt by 2033, and no concrete plans have been made to keep that from happening. The aldermen just voted to give themselves raises. Almost 60 city employees, including eight department heads and the city clerk, just retired, effectively leaving them with no institutional memory. The Civic Center is literally crumbling. Oh, and nobody west of Ridge or south of Clark Street can stand us.

If you actually want to be a part of something that will affect your daily life here, then you better start paying attention.

So take Politico off your bookmarks and start keeping track of the Eighth Ward message boards, because this will be in full swing by the time we get back from winter break.

Isn’t democracy grand?